Title IV-E Child Welfare Information Project

The goal of the ULM Title IV-E Child Welfare Information Project is to ensure the
preparation of future graduates for competent practice in Child Protection, Family
Services, Foster Care, Adoptions and/or Home Development. The ULM Project is one of
seven Universities in Louisiana, contracted by the Louisiana Department of Children
and Family Services (DCFS) in a statewide agency/university partnership established
in 1995 to achieve this goal.

Mission

To attract and prepare potential employees for a career in public child welfare in
Louisiana. To embrace and expand child-centered, family-focused and strengths-based child welfare
practice methods and evidence-based child welfare practice methods and evidence-based
accountability. To support current LA DCFS employees in continued professional development to enhance
their child welfare careers.

Purpose

To train and prepare undergraduate social work students for competent child welfare
practice and a career committed to constant betterment of services for and protection
of children from maltreatment. To encourage LA DCFS workers to return to higher education to further their own professionalism
as well as that of the agency. To contribute to the knowledge base of child welfare practice and effective collaboration
for children and families through training, evaluation and research, presentations
and publications by ULM Social Work faculty and staff.

What is the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project at ULM?

The Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project at ULM is a Program to encourage undergraduate
social work students to prepare for a public child welfare career. Students who participate
and complete the program are eligible to apply as a Social Services Specialist Intern
with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, which is our state's
public child welfare office. The LA DCFS provides state sponsored adoptions, foster
care services, and child protection services. ULM is one of 7 universities who provided
child welfare training under a similar federally funded initiative prior to the current
statewide Title IV-E initiative.

ULM students who participate are selected annually on a competitive basis. They submit
applications during the Spring Semester, which includes a panel review composed of
ULM social work faculty and LA DCFS Regional Specialists. Once selected, students
receive a $6,500.00 stipend, complete a block field placement in a LA DCFS parish
office, and are required to apply for the Social Services Special Intern position
upon graduation to fulfill a one year work requirement. Students are encouraged to
continue their professional training and can defer their work obligation if they enroll
in a CSWE accredited Master's in Social Work (MSW) program. Students are encouraged
to apply for employment with LA DCFS in any of the state's 64 parishes.